Chairman Pete Winkelman can already sense that spirits have been lifted following the appointment of Russell Martin last weekend.
Martin was handed the reins at Stadium MK manager just a day after the departure of Paul Tisdale, and will take charge of his first match this Saturday when MK Dons face Port Vale in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper.
This is the former Scotland international’s first job in management and he takes over with the side currently occupying a place in the Sky Bet League One relegation zone, but chairman Pete Winkelman is excited at the prospect of what his new chief can do.
“I've not given him the easiest task at all, but I am quite excited,” Winkelman said in a media call on Wednesday.
“I'm really looking forward to Saturday. I’ve been so ill this week, banning myself from the stadium because I’m contagious, but I’m still very excited.
“It has been a horrendous few weeks but from what I’ve been told from people, suddenly the club is buzzing, out of the doldrums and we haven't even played a game.
“It won't all turn around with a click of our fingers. We need to give him the chance to find his feet and to experiment with his team, and the players a chance to come back and give us positivity to pull us through.”
Less than 24 hours separated the departure of Tisdale and the appointment of Martin, with Winkelman acting quickly to secure his man for the job.
“I knew I wanted to give this guy a job,” he said. “This was not what we planned and it's early but when we saw things go wrong for Paul, I immediately thought Russell.
“When Russell first came in, he came with all the qualifications behind him and was already on his Pro Licence and doing a football management diploma too.
“What people have said to me about him has only reinforced the idea. He has all the qualities to become a successful manager and if he's a successful manager, he'll do it here.”
“We were having to make that massive decision on Saturday and I made this change really quickly. I didn't tell him to take the job, there was no pressure. I could have got any reaction, but I got the one I wanted from him. He wants to dive in and make a difference.”
***
Watch Russell Martin's first match in charge of MK Dons this weekend as his side take on Port Vale at Stadium MK in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper.
Tickets are priced from £12 adults, £5 under-18s and £1 under-12s, with discounts for Season Ticket holders until 5pm on Friday.
Supporters can upgrade to seats in the East Centre for a £3 premium (£2 under-18s) while an upgrade to clubRed is just £6 more (£5 under-18s/£4 under-12s).
To book tickets click HERE, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK or call 0333 200 5343.
Tickets will be available to buy right up until kick-off from the Box Office. Tickets will go off sale online at 12pm. Tickets can also be bought from cash-only ticket booths around Stadium MK from 1pm.
